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One Nation Under a Groove

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This article is about the album. For the song, see One Nation Under a Groove (song).
Untitled
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Billboard(favorable)[2]
Blender[3]
Robert Christgau(A)[4]
Entertainment Weekly(A)[5]
Tower.com[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Sputnikmusic[8]
Vibe(favorable)[9]

One Nation Under a Groove is the tenth studio album by American funk and rock band Funkadelic, released in September 1978 on Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions took place at United Sound Studio in Detroit, Michigan, with one song recorded live on April 15, 1978 at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana.[6] The album was the first album to include keyboardist and frequent songwriter Walter "Junie" Morrison. One Nation Under a Groove also marked the pinnacle of Michael Hampton's development as a guitarist.

One Nation Under a Groove was Funkadelic's most commercially successful album, and one of its most critically lauded. It is also regarded by many as the greatest funk album of all time and ranks at or near the top of many "best album" lists in disparate genres.[10] The album was later featured on Vibe magazine's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century list. In 2003, the album is ranked number 177 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[11] The album is listed as one of the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[12]

Songs and music

One Nation Under a Groove is a very loose concept album (as are most of Funkadelic's works), essentially declaring the power of Funk (see P Funk mythology) to do two interconnected things: become an open-minded, happy, and goal-oriented person, and dance well. This is the power of Funk stated in less clear terms on previous albums (Free Your Mind... And Your Ass Will Follow).

"One Nation Under a Groove"

see main article One Nation Under a Groove (song)

This song became Funkadelic's biggest hit and the group's only million selling single, and is today regarded as one of their signature songs, being a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll and Rolling Stone magazine's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". It was also a top 40 hit. The song refers to dancing as a path to freedom: the "dancing" can be seen as metaphoric, though. The song's title most likely refers to the line in the Pledge of Allegiance "One nation under God".

"Groovallegiance"

A song with a slow funky beat, Groovallegiance continues the album's loose concept about forming "One Nation Under a Groove". It references the "United Funk of Funkadelica", supposedly the one nation referred to in the title and presents the taking of an oath pledging groovallegiance to the funk. Groovallegiance is an excellent example of the vocal finesse of the group and also features a rare bass solo.

"Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"

In keeping the album's theme of breaking political, social, and musical barriers, this song is a cross between funk and rock, mixing a funky bassline with heavy, more rock oriented guitar and drums. The lyrics are simple, referring to why a funk band can, contrary to popular belief, play rock: regardless, it is one of their most popular songs.[citation needed]

"P.E. Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)"

"Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo-Doo Chasers)" is a long, scatological song with references to the world being, among other things, a toll-free toilet.

"Into You"

A Funk ballad that features bass singer Ray Davis as the primary lead vocalist, a rarity among Funkadelic songs.

"Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)"

This song deals with a man once interested in classical music who is introduced to funk and phone cords by some friends of his: at first, he is doubtful of it, but he eventually grows to love it.

Original LP track listing

In the US, the original album came with a bonus 7" EP.[13] In Europe, the Bonus-EP was replaced by a bonus 12" 45rpm mini-album containing the 3 EP tracks on one side and an extended version of "One Nation Under a Groove" on the other.

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."One Nation Under a Groove"George Clinton, Walter Morrison, Garry Shider7:29
2."Groovallegiance"Clinton, Morrison, Bernard Worrell7:00
3."Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"Clinton, Morrison, Michael Hampton6:18
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)"Clinton, Shider, Linda Brown10:45
2."Into You"Clinton, Morrison, William Collins5:41
3."Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)"Clinton, Morrison, Collins4:27
Total length:41:40
Bonus EP side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Maggot Brain/Chant (Think It Ain't Illegal Yet!)" (Live)Clinton, Edward Hazel8:28
Bonus EP side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Lunchmeataphobia (Think! It Ain't Illegal Yet!)"Clinton, Worrell4:12
2."P.E. Squad/Doo Doo Chasers"Clinton, Shider, Brown4:18
Total length:16:58

CD track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."One Nation Under a Groove"George Clinton, Walter Morrison, Garry Shider7:29
2."Groovallegiance"Clinton, Morrison, Bernard Worrell7:00
3."Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!"Clinton, Morrison, Michael Hampton6:18
4."Promentalshitbackwashpsychosis Enema Squad (The Doo Doo Chasers)"Clinton, Shider, Linda Brown10:45
5."Into You"Clinton, Morrison, William Collins5:41
6."Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll!)"Clinton, Morrison, Collins4:27
7."Maggot Brain/Chant (Think It Ain't Illegal Yet!)" (Live)Clinton, Edward Hazel8:28
8."Lunchmeataphobia (Think! It Ain't Illegal Yet!)"Clinton, Worrell4:12
9."P.E. Squad/Doo Doo Chasers"Clinton, Shider, Brown4:18
Total length:58.38

Personnel

Funkadelic Main Invasion Force (as given in the liner notes):

See also

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Billboard review
  3. ^ Blender review
  4. ^ Robert Christgau review
  5. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  6. ^ a b Tower.com: One Nation Under a Groove. Tower.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
  7. ^ Rolling Stone Album Guide
  8. ^ Sputnikmusic review
  9. ^ Vibe review
  10. ^ Acclaimed Music - One Nation Under a Groove (rankings, ratings, etc.). www.acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
  11. ^ 177) One Nation Under a Groove : Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-08-11.
  12. ^ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  13. ^ "Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove". discogs.com. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
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